Federer outclasses substandard Murray

Despite a strong start Murray fell to a 7-6(5), 6-2 defeat against Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals.

It was a heavily error-strewn performance from the Brit who racked up an uncharacteristic amount of unforced errors and failed to save a single break point as Federer cruised into the final.

For the third successive match Murray won the toss and elected to receive, and for the third successive time he got off to the perfect start, breaking the second seed in the opening game after a series of errors off the Federer racquet.

The Swiss man had made an overwhelming amount of errors throughout this tournament and the trend looked set to continue, as he again found himself in trouble at 3-1 after more wild errors. This time however he was able to avert the danger, before having a chance of his own on the Murray serve. But the Brit was able to stay ahead with some great net coverage to open up a 4-2 lead.

Federer was working his way into the match and after a comfortable hold he broke back, aided heavily by a number of loose errors from the Scot.

Despite falling behind in his next service game Murray was able to regroup and force the tie-break, with the quality of tennis noticeably improving. But despite earning an early mini-break Federer rallied back, and it was the Swiss man who claimed the first set after just over an hour.

The defending champion was asserting his authority on the match now and in the third game he broke the world number three, coming from 40-0 down with Murray finding the net three times in succession.

The Brit’s return game was non-existent by now and Federer cruised into a 4-2 lead before breaking through again, passing Murray to seal his third break of the match before serving it out to book his place in the final.

Murray will now have a seven week lay-off before returning in Brisbane next year, where he will be looking to defend his title.

intital reaction,. Absolute garbage...but on reflection maybe understandable on the back of a very emotional year..roll on 2013. Pleae tell me that those boo's when he cracked his racket were from the swiss fans and not the arse licking fed fan yuppies we seem to get in this country...VOM.

When will someone smash that smug, arrogant, match-throwing, bighead's face so that we don't have to see it on a tennis court anymore? Between looking at him, his smug looking box @ his brain-washed fans it's getting too much. Hope Novak wipes the floor with him tomorrow.

When will someone smash that smug, arrogant, match-throwing, bighead's face so that we don't have to see it on a tennis court anymore? Between looking at him, his smug looking box @ his brain-washed fans it's getting too much. Hope Novak wipes the floor with him tomorrow.

I switched off at 5:2 as I could not bear watching Fed win. actually, he did not play particularly well. All he had to do in the second set was wait for Andy's errors. I cannot explain to myself how his level was dropping. Was it the long and tiring season (which other players had as well), was it the missing support from the crowd, simply a bad day at the office (at one of the tour highlights)?Definitely it is very disappointing to end the season like that, foremost of course for Andy. Yet, it cannot take anything away from the great year we had with Andy this summer. today's match proved we are still on the Murray roller-coaster and I am going take a ride next year again.